Field investigation/Home visit nightmare?

[Silverberry1331 25]

Hi everyone!

 

I hope you all can help me.  My sister and Joe (from Lagos) have been married for just under two years (and were together a year before that).  She has had several visits and mom and dad went over once too when they got married. They are in the process of petitioning for spousal visa.  He received his interview (passport not taken) and was put into AP about six months ago.  They have received very little word in terms of updates since then. Now something very strange has happened:  Yesterday, Joe's mom said that a man came to the door asking all sorts of questions about him.  The man was not really clear about who he was or why he was asking these questions.  Naturally, she refused to answer.  Upon finding this out, Joe asked around and was told by a few neighbors that a USCIS agent came out and was asking all sorts of questions about their relationship and my sister.  Joe is now in the process of asking his employer if he has heard anything.    

 

This is crazy!  I have heard of background checks and AP.  My own husband, who is from Morocco, went into AP temporarily, but he was only in there for less than two weeks.  He has been here for a while and has since naturalized (but he came in 2011 and naturalized in 2017, so I get that things could have changed sin then). 

 

Has anyone had this happen to them?  Was it this extreme?  Can the COs actually do this?   This sounds invasive.  I tried searching for this on VJ and elsewhere.  I have seen some others on the boards mention "home visit" and "field investigation" but I haven't seen much detail, so I don't know if this means that.   Then there is the issue that his mother's refusal to answer questions (understandably not wanting to talk to a total stranger who wouldn't really identify themselves).   What do you recommend they do?  

 

I really appreciate your wisdom!

 

Edited November 10, 2023 by Silverberry1331
Quick add to the story for context.

[Verrou 1,899]

joe lives in Lagos ? there's no USCIS officer outside america. outside america case handled by consulate.

was wondering if its scam? i never hear consulate office went for home visit before.

[Crazy Cat 39,273]

1 hour ago, Silverberry1331 said:

This sounds invasive.

 

1 hour ago, Silverberry1331 said:

What do you recommend they do?  

I have heard of this. It has been said that Lagos is in a fraud category of its own.  I have definitely heard of field investigations after interviews.  Nothing they can do at this point.   Maybe Joe knows why they are asking questions.  Has Joe been married there before?

Edited November 10, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Silverberry1331 25]

39 minutes ago, Verrou said:

joe lives in Lagos ? there's no USCIS officer outside america. outside america case handled by consulate.

was wondering if its scam? i never hear consulate office went for home visit before.

 

Ah thanks so much for asking this.  That is my mistake.  I used the term interchangeably.  Doh!  Do you still feel the same way upon hearing this?  I appreciate you chiming in and asking for clarification.

[SalishSea 16,776]

1 hour ago, Silverberry1331 said:

 

Ah thanks so much for asking this.  That is my mistake.  I used the term interchangeably.  Doh!  Do you still feel the same way upon hearing this?  I appreciate you chiming in and asking for clarification.

It would be DOS, not USCIS.

 

Nigeria is in its own category in terms of fraud, and it sounds like they are investigating him.

 

Typical fraud for that country is related to fake documents or falsified marital histories and familial relationships.

Edited November 10, 2023 by SalishSea

[Verrou 1,899]

1 hour ago, Silverberry1331 said:

 

Ah thanks so much for asking this.  That is my mistake.  I used the term interchangeably.  Doh!  Do you still feel the same way upon hearing this?  I appreciate you chiming in and asking for clarification.

Nothing Joe can do. DoS have the final say. If it’s bonafide marriage, it shouldn’t and hopefully won’t be a problem 

[Silverberry1331 25]

Thank you so much for your input.  I have never heard of this before.  

[JeanneAdil 6,203]

yes ,  it has happened in Nigeria before 

officer should have shown his ID to the mom for this visit

 

One i remember was 2 or 3 years ago and was asked about here on VJ

 

I recall the officer visiting while the spouse was home and at that visit he also called the US spouse and asked questions about the house in Nigeria itself as supposedly she had stayed there.  The USC never followed up here on VJ with the outcome and didn't post a timeline

 

Only thing that sounds strange is "no ID shown"   and  " only 1 officer"   

i believe 2 came in the other post

[Chancy 6,233]

On 11/10/2023 at 2:17 PM, Silverberry1331 said:

Has anyone had this happen to them?

 

Yes, it happens.  Here's a report from another VJ member with husband from Lagos --